QuickBooks Online vs Desktop both are created by intuit. Quickbooks desktop (QBD) is a locally installed software offering advanced, industry-specific features like intensive inventory management and more robust reporting but requires a Windows PC and has limited accessibility. It is referred to as QuickBooks Desktop Pro, even though there are three QuickBooks products: QuickBooks Pro, QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise, and QuickBooks Desktop Premier.. Every plan is designed according to the users and features and QuickBooks online (QBO) is a cloud based accounting software to access anywhere and especially those that are handling their own accounting or are operating with a remote accountant.